Proud new owner of 2 1/2 FJ's

[dbelch]

Dan from Simcoe Ontario.  Long story (I'll keep it short).  After a break from motorcyles (I owned a '77 XS 750 when I was 18) and a mid-life crisis later, I saw an '86 FJ 1200 for sale in a town 20 minutes away.  Full of spring fever, I purchased the bike which had obviously seen better days for a mere $1400.  The main selling feature was fresh rubber, a rebuilt engine, fresh fork seals, and what was left of an '85 1100 which was stolen and returned in peices.  The 85's engine was overbored, rebuilt and had 50,000 km's on it.

Wishing to rescue this fine bike from the scrap man, I hired a young mechanic to work on it on the side in his garage.  That was March 2010, I still don't have it.  It was finally sent to the shop for its safety in August.  The rubber was plugged, chain was worn, fuel petcock broken, and electrical was a mess (actually had a piece of house wiring complete with marrettes under the seat).  After many new parts that have cost much more than its ticket price, & the cash to the mechanic was flowing as equally as fast.  The only thing preventing the safety now is that the engine will not shut off by turning the key, only by using the kill switch.

Frustrated with the snails pace of this fix, I saw a 91' in beautiful shape w/60k on it (fully safetied!) purchaced it on Thanksgiving weekend, and had it on the road that week.  Still have to get the 86 back tho.

[racerman_27410]

wow... sounds like an ordeal for sure.

but now you will have the best of both worlds and thats a good thing 

welcome to the group!


KOokaloo!

[Travis398]

Sounds like you have been infected with that FJ bug, its been going around here for a while. Next thing you know you will be telling the wife she has to park outside.   

[dbelch]

Thanks for the welcome, actually I would like to see my wife get her licence ..the only problem is will she want the blue bike with the lovely pink pinstripe, or the red and white one with all the new parts?...choices

[1tinindian]

Don't dis-respect the "Pink"!  haha!
Welcome, and good for you on getting into the FJ spirit!

Leon

[dbelch]

Great news!  Just discovered a Yamaha mechanic that'll have a look at the'86 in two weeks...I see a safety in my future!  What's better than one FJ?  Two of course!

[carsick]

Good job on finding a wrench who will touch your old bike! Any luck fixing that fuel leak on the '91? I don't want to hear about another FJ fire...

[paulfj03]

Hey Dan,

Another local FJman! Awsome!  Welcome to the FJ 'Owners/Addictions' forum! A lot of info/help/support here to help you if your looking to buy another! Hahaha.

Post some pictures when you can. Winter blues are starting to hit Napanee this morning...  -31.1*C and dropping. Yep, officially cold now. I was out for a ride dec 31st with a buddy ...it was warmer . Got the carbs out on the 91, myself, for a cleaning... Which led to taking more parts off for polishing...my wife has a hard time looking at the bike stripped of parts...god bless her. She would do the carbs herself if I wouldn't keep looking over her shoulder. What a keeper, eh. Then again, this is Napanee where the Men are Men, and the women are too!  Heh, heh.
Hope you find the leak culprit. Its not a hard fix, usually.

[dbelch]

Hoping to convince this new mechanic to give the '91 a quick look. It needs the leaky carb looked at, and new fork seals.  Perhaps I can bribe him with the spare engine (1300 cc).  I hear has already placed one FJ engine in his ATV, but threw a rod out it's case, said it kept on running on the remaining three cylinders!  A gearing problem.   Great to hear from Napenee..I was a Bancroft boy myself, cut my motorcycle teeth on all those twisting roads through the rock cuts.  I'll post some pic's as soon as I get a bike or two back together.  Look forward to a nice long riding season this summer